Inflatable panels bodywork for automotive vehicles

ABSTRACT

A bodywork for vehicles including panels made of a deformable material and filled with a pressured fluid. The panels are located on the external sections of the bodywork.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is related to bodywork having inflatable panels for an automobile, and more precisely a bodywork which includes several inflatable hollow panels of a deformable material, strategically located along the bodywork.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of inflatable bags such as the widely known “air bags”, which are located in the interior of the vehicle, is well known for the protection of passengers of car vehicles.

A higher level of safety may be conferred to the passengers of the vehicle through the present invention since the energy consumed in the event of a crash is better used, the mass is diminished and the distortion shape of the vehicle's bodywork is improved.

In the event of a crash or accident, and with the application of the present invention, an elastic and not a plastic crash is produced due to the deformation caused to the inflatable panels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a bodywork for a vehicle including a plurality of panels strategically located, which novelty includes that the panels are hollow, tight sealed, made of a deformable material, and filled with a pressure fluid.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the inflatable panels are located in the external parts of the bodywork in the zones subject to impact in the event of vehicle crashes.

In some embodiments, the panels are filled with a pressurized gas. In some embodiments, the panels are filled with pressurized liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be evidenced and clarified with reference to the execution described hereinafter. In the description, the figures show:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective front view of a vehicle including the inflatable panels according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In Figure I, shows a bodywork 1 for a vehicle including a roof panel 2, a hood panel 4, a front panel 5, and side door panels 3. These panels receive the impact in the event of a crash or turnover of the vehicle since they are located in the external part of the bodywork.

In FIG. 2, shows that the roof panel 2 includes a hollow cavity 6. The cavity 6 is fill with a pressurized fluid. The side door panels 3 also include a hollow cavity 7 filled with a pressurized fluid.

In FIG. 3, shows that the hood 4 includes a hollow cavity 8, which is fill with a pressurized fluid. The front panel 5 also include a hollow cavity 9 filled with a pressurized fluid.

In some embodiments, all of the panels may be fill out with the same pressurized fluid. In some embodiments, at least one panel is filling out with a different pressurized fluid. The panels are constantly at least partially fill with the pressurized fluid.

The panels 2, 3, 4, and 5 may be made of a deformable material. The panels 2, 3, 4, and 5 may be made inflatable panels.

The panels may be fill with the pressurized fluid by a compressor operated by the car's engine.

In this variant, the gas pressure can be regulated through a control system which varies the pressure according to the parameters previously set forth.

Another variant of the invention consists in the fact that, in the event certain parts of the bodywork should need a higher weight, the corresponding panels may be filled totally or partially with a liquid. 

1. A bodywork for a vehicle comprising: a plurality panels having a hollow cavity, wherein the panels are made of a deformable material, and wherein the panels are filled with a pressurized fluid.
 2. The bodywork according to claim 1, wherein the panels are located around exterior sections of the bodywork.
 3. The bodywork according to claim 1, wherein the panels are filled with pressurized liquid.
 4. The bodywork according to claim 1, wherein the panels are filled with pressurized gas.
 5. The bodywork according to claim 1, wherein the panels are constantly at least partially filled with the pressurized fluid.
 6. The bodywork according to claim 1, wherein the panels include at least one of a roof panel, a hood panel, a front panel, and a side door panel.
 7. The bodywork according to claim 6, wherein all of the panels are fill with the same pressurized fluid.
 8. The bodywork according to claim 6, wherein at least one panel is fill with a different pressurized fluid. 